DIY: Changing Oil & Filter in a 35d - new pics added - Page 2

FunfDreisig · #1 12-30-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkinner

Does anyone know what the Castrol Syntec equivalent is to the OEM Castrol SLX Professional OE 5W-30? What I mean to say is, are we alright to use Syntec, or is the SLX professional one in the same....

I don't know. BUT...
IMHO this is NOT where I would try to save a little cash. I bought my oil, filter etc. from my BMW dealer. If there is ever any question about whether I used the right oil, filter, etc. I can show them the invoice.

FWIW I am very conscious of anything that could possibly give a dealer or BMW an excuse not to honor the warranty. On our old E53 I installed a 3rd party battery. But I ended up having to replace it with a BMW battery a year later. Not because it was defective, but because the dealer would not even attempt to repair an electrical issue under warranty, unless the battery was a BMW approved part.

Funf Dreisig

ABMW · #2 01-08-2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunfDreisig

I don't know. BUT...
IMHO this is NOT where I would try to save a little cash. I bought my oil, filter etc. from my BMW dealer. If there is ever any question about whether I used the right oil, filter, etc. I can show them the invoice.

FWIW I am very conscious of anything that could possibly give a dealer or BMW an excuse not to honor the warranty. On our old E53 I installed a 3rd party battery. But I ended up having to replace it with a BMW battery a year later. Not because it was defective, but because the dealer would not even attempt to repair an electrical issue under warranty, unless the battery was a BMW approved part.

Funf Dreisig

If the battery was the same specs. as the BMW battery that behavior is illegal in all 50-states. A simple filing in small claims court would have won you damages. It's extraordinarily difficult to void a warranty in this country. I've written about this many times (search my threads).

You can do whatever you want to your car, within reason, without fear of voiding the warranty. Don't let some BMW tech with a junior college degree (if that) tell you what you can and can't do with your vehicle. You can put any brand of oil in the car, any brand of filter, etc. As long as it meets factory specs or exceeds factor specs., you're WELL within your rights.

In court, these cases are notoriously losing propositions for dealers and factories and they'll back down 99.9% of the time with a stern letter, within an amazingly quick time. They know, and are well aware, of what they can and what they cant, get away with. That doesn't mean they don't try to get away with pushing people around like this all day long. It makes them money, lots of money, which is why when these types of cases end up in front of a judge there are often large punitive damages awarded.

Don't let your dealer push you around like that. You're entitled to buy a battery of your choice, and if it exceeds factory specs so much the better.

If my dealer pulled that with me, I'd file a claim against them the next day in small-claims and refuse to settle, just to piss them off.

That's B.S. and the laws on this matter are as clear and in plain language as can be, for a reason.

I'm sure lots of lawyers lurk these boards and will be happy to add more.

Use whatever oil you want as long as it meets or exceeds factory recommended specs your fine. You need not use the same brand or a genuine BMW filter. That's ludicrous!

JCL · #3 01-08-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABMW

If the battery was the same specs. as the BMW battery that behavior is illegal in all 50-states. .......Use whatever oil you want as long as it meets or exceeds factory recommended specs your fine. You need not use the same brand or a genuine BMW filter. That's ludicrous!

I don't disagree with anything you say (at least for those who live in the US, as the rest of the world doesn't have the Magnuson-Moss Act). However, implicit in your post is the assumption that the battery referenced above does meet the same specs. It may not have.

Oil is easy to meet the manufacturer's specs for. BMW publishes requirements for oil, and API SL or SM usually meets those specs. No manufacturer will require that you use their own oil. The one caution I would throw out is in regard to filters, your last example. BMW can't require you to use a BMW filter. However, they can require you to use a filter that meets the same specs, and those specs aren't published. That means that you may end up having to fight with BMW (or any other manufacturer) about a warranty claim if BMW believe it was caused by your aftermarket filter, and you don't agree. The safest is to simply use a BMW oil filter and air filter, or be prepared for a potential fight if in fact you have a failure that can in some way be related to the aftermarket filter. There aren't a lot of failures caused by filters these days, but I would put filters in a slightly higher risk category than batteries and oil (which essentially have no risk, given the ready availability of published specs).

Just my $0.02

Retired Profile · #4 12-30-2009, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the advice. Definitely not trying to just save a few bucks. I merely want to drop the oil and filter at 9000K KM - which is halfway to the 18000K KM that the dealer will do it.

There is no way of them knowing that I even changed the oil - which is what I would prefer. If I buy oil /filter from them and something goes wrong with the engine, could they not also say that it was due to the fact that I worked on the engine?

I want my intermediate oil change completely under the radar if possible. This will avoid any issues/questions about liability down the road while under warranty I think.

On that note, I presume as long as Syntec meets the specifications, it should be suitable.

FunfDreisig · #5 12-30-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkinner

.... If I buy oil /filter from them and something goes wrong with the engine, could they not also say that it was due to the fact that I worked on the engine?

I want my intermediate oil change completely under the radar if possible. This will avoid any issues/questions about liability down the road while under warranty I think......

Good point.

IIRC Penguin got his oil and filter online through getBMWparts.com which handles BMW OEM parts via Tischer BMW. This could give you the best of both worlds. The 'approved' oil and filter, with minimal connection to your dealership.

Funf Dreisig

Lubehead · #6 12-30-2009, 08:29 PM

LL-04 is the specification required. If it doesn't state that on the container, it should not be used if you want to comply with the OEM specification.

The engine holds 8 quarts with a fillter change, period.

grover432 · #7 01-01-2010, 12:16 PM

You guys have too much time on your hands.

For me, this is a job for the dealer while I'm out jogging or cycling. Plus, the dealer can check some of the other stuff that helps keep the vehicle healthy while they are at it.

jaaX3 · #8 01-04-2010, 05:59 PM

Tischer (getbmwparts.com) has a special on an oil change kit right now. The parts manager there says it's the same kit as a 335d (same engine, right?).
getBMWparts.com powered by Tischer BMW - Your #1 Source for all OEM BMW Parts/Accessories!

EDIT: And free shipping!

jaaX3 · #9 01-08-2010, 02:36 PM

Is the part number for the filter 11427788460?

FunfDreisig · #10 01-08-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaaX3

Is the part number for the filter 11427788460?

Good catch.

The part number of the filter my dealer sold me was 11427788460. But as you can see in the OP photos, the part number of the filter that was in my 35d was 11427788461. The photos show that they are the same size and design. Hopefully they are the same part with different numbers

Funf Dreisig